Telephone booth



O ct. 10, 1933. 7 ca s. FABER v TELEPHONE BOOTH 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24., 1951 Y .GS'QFABQ- L TELEPHONE- BOOTH I I Filed Oct; 24, 19s; 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i I a? l 70 26 Z 10 G. S. FABER TELEPBONE BOOTH Oct, 10, 1933.

Filed Oct. 24. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 10, 1933. I I ,6 s FABER I 1,929,776 I TELEPHONE BOOTH F led Oct. 24. 1951' 4 Sheets-Shea 4 V- J07 k I it J05 JEW- Patented Oct. 10, 1933 TELEPHONE BOOTH Guy S. Faber, Chicago, Ill., assignor'to Churchill Cabinet Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 24,

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to telephone booths, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved system of ventilation for telephone booths or the like.

One or the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved system of ventilation for telephone booths and the like, which is adapted to exhaust the polluted air from the telephone booth and also to-provide a positive supply of fresh air for the telephone booth.

Another object is the provision of an improved system of the class described, which is adapted to accomplish both the positive discharge of polluted air and the positive supply of fresh air to the telephone booth, by movements of a com- .mon fan. Another object is the provision of a device of the class described, which is adapted to subject the user of the telephone booth to a moderate stream or fresh air without subjecting the occupant to a draft, so that the user of the telephone booth is definitely conscious of the positive ventilation and supply of fresh air to the booth.

Another object is the provision of an improved,

device of the class described, in which the fan is not only adapted to exhaust polluted air and supply fresh air, but to remove the heat radiated by the electric light which is provided for the illumination of the telephone booth.

Another object is the provision of a device of the class described, in which the ventilating fan is sufficiently exposed to view so that the user of the telephone booth may note the action of the fan and be conscious of the positive ventilation of the telephone booth, for the purpose of assuring the occupant that the fan is operating and that the booth is properly ventilated, and to increase the popularity and demand for the telephone booth by virtue of the psychological effect of the evidence of ventilation.

Another object is the provision of an improved ventilating fixture or assembly for telephone booths, which is adapted to be used in telephone booths of difierent sizes or shapes, and which may be installed in any telephone booth with minimum expense and labor. Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are four sheets;

Fig. l is a view in perspective of a telephone 1931. Serial No. 570,861

booth constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the interior of the telephone booth with the walls broken away, showing the relation of the inlet conduit, telephone and the air outlet;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the deflector and discharge opening of the inlet conduit;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in partial section, showing a front elevation of the interior of the inlet conduit at the discharge end;

Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the plane of the line passing through the center of the telephone booth parallel to the side walls from the front to the rear;

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuitsfor the control of the ventilation and illumination;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing the arrangement of the auxiliary conduits for the supply of fresh air to the booth with the same fan;

- Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the end fixtures for the auxiliary conduits;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through one of the auxiliary conduits, taken on the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing the mode of mounting the motor supporting bracket and discharge conduit on the upper side of the ceiling;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, Sectional view showing the construction of the globe supporting fixture and mode of support of the globe;

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of the ceiling with the walls of the booth in section, showing the lighting and ventilating fixtures as it appears from below;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the ventilation system of the booth with the roof of the telephone booth broken away;

Fig. la is a bottom plan view of the ventilating and lightingsystem with the globe removed.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified form of my invention; and

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15 illustrating another modification oi the invention.

The present system of ventilation and ventilating device may be employed in telephone booths of any kind, and the cabinet which has been selected for illustrating the invention is merely exemplary of one of the many types of telephone booths with whichthe present improved. device may be employed.

Referring to Fig. 1, 20 indicates in its "entirety the telephone booth which is provided with one or more door leaves 21, floor 22, side walls 23, 24,

back 25, ceiling 26, and roof 27. The front panel 28 of the boothabove the door is preferably provided with an illuminated window opening 29 having a transparent or translucent glass 30,

'34 which may besecured to the ceiling 26 by wood screws 35. The exhaust conduit 33 is also preferably provided with a window opening 36 on the side toward the booth window 30, and the window opening 36 may be closed with a sheet 3'7 of non-inflammable isinglass, glass, or" any appropriate transparent material. The lower side of the opening 32 in the ceiling 26 is preferably closed by a globe supporting fixture 38 which is adapted to support the light globe 39 and to permit the circulation of the air from the interior of the telephone booth 20 out through the exhaust conduit 33 under the action of the fan 40. The globe 39 preferably consists of a translucent glass globe having the shape of a shallow bowl with a radially extending and substantially fiat edge 41.

The supporting fixture 38 may consist of a stamped sheet metal member having a circular attaching flange 42 adapted to fit on the lower side of the ceiling about the boundary of the opening 32. The flange 42 may be secured to the ceiling by wood screws 43. The globe fixture is also" provided with a substantially cylindrical portion 44 extending downward from the attaching flange 42, and with a radially inward, and horizontally extending clamping flange 45 for engaging the upper edge of the globe 39. Between the radial flange 45 and the cylindrical flange 44, the body 46 of the globe fixture may extend diagonally inward, or the fixture may taper in shape toward the globe 39 in any ornamental manner.

The body 46 of the globe fixture is preferably provided with a multiplicity of vertically extending slots 4'7 located as closely together as possible for the purpose of providing a maximumarea of discharge opening for the air discharged from the booth through the conduit 33. The slots 4'7 should preferably be wide enough to permit a view of the fan 40 which is illuminated by the electric light 48 so that the user of the booth can ascertain whether the fan is rotating, but the slots 47 should not be sufliciently wide to permit the fingers or articles which are usually carried by the occupants, to be stuck through the slots into engagement with the fan blades. The globe supporting fixture carries a globe 39 and protects the occupant against contact with the rotating fan, and at the same time prevents the occupant from damaging the fan. v

The flange 45 is also preferably provided with threaded apertures 49 and the globe 39 may be 4 secured to the fixture 38 by means of clamping members 50 provided with apertures 51 for receiving the screw bolts 52.. The clamping members 50 are'provided with an offset 53 equal to the thickness of the edge 41 of the globe, and

with a horizontally extending clamping flange 54 for engaging the lower side of the edge 41 of the globe.

Clamping members 50 may be located at regularly spaced points about the globe 39, but referring to Fig. 14, it will be noted that three clamping members are sufficient. The clamping members 50 may be made just as wide as the portions of the fixture 38 between the slots 47 so that the clamping members do not close any of the slots and it should be noted that the slots may extend all the wayfrom' the cylindrical flange 44 to close proximity with the edge 41 of the globe, so as to give a maximum area of air outlet. The clamping members 50 are also similar in appearance to the parts of the globe fixture 38, so that they do not detract from the appearance of the finished fixture.

The door leaf 21 which is secured to the side wall 24 by hinges 55 is preferably provided with an upwardly projecting rod or bar 56 which may be fixedly riveted or otherwise secured to the hinge 55 by the rivets 57. The bar 56 has a horizontally turned end 58 which is adapted to engage the wsitch lever 59 when the doors 21 are moved to a substantially open position. The switch 60 preferably consists of a snap switch which permits a substantial movement of the switch lever 59 before the switch 60 is opened, and the switch 60 is adapted to close by virtue of a self-contained spring which urges the switch to closed position as shown in Fig. 5.

It will thus be observed that the space between the horizontal bar 58 and the switch lever 59 when the door is closed, constitutes a space for lost motion so that the switch is not opened by merely moving the door a slight amount, but the door may be opened slightly by the occupant to talk with persons on the exterior, without turning off the electric light or fan, and the circuit is not actually opened until the door is opened a substantial amount, which is preferably the fully opened position.

Referring to Fig. 6, this is a wiring diagram of the mode of control of the electric light 48, and fan motor 61. It will be noted that both the light 48 and motor 61 are connected in parallel and controlled by the switch 60 so that when the switch is open, the light is extinguished and the fan shut off. It should be understood, however, that many of the features of the present invention may be utilized in telephone booths which do not employ a door control of the ventilation, and if desired, the fan and light may in some cases be controlled by hand switches, or operated continuously.

The exhaust conduit 33 preferably supports a standard lighting socket 62 for supporting, the standard electriclight globe 48 and the socket 62 may communicate with the switch box 60 through electric conductors contained in standard conduits 63. The socket 62 is preferably so located that the electric light 48 will be located beneath the fan 40 at substantially the center of the ceiling 26 above the globe 39. The electric light bulb is thus located in the stream of the exhaust air, and a much larger bulb may be used than might otherwise be used, on account of the fact that the heat radiated by the bulb is radiated to the'exhaust air which'is driven out of the telephone booth.

The ceiling 26 also preferably supports a motor supporting bracket 64, having three or more radially extending arms 65 each provided with downwardly extending legs 66 and feet 67. The feet the ceiling 26 by wood screws 68, but referring to Fig. 10, the bracket 64 preferably has its feet provided with enlarged openings 69 for receiving resilient rubber grommets 70 which are engaged by the wood screws 68. The feet 67 are wholly insulated from the screws 68 and wooden ceiling 26 by the soft rubber grommets 70 and noise and vibration of the motor is not transmitted to the wooden ceiling 26.

The legs 66 of the bracket 64 are also preferably resilient so that the vibration incident to the operation of the motor is absorbed by the bracket 64 and rubber grommets '70.

Bracket 64 is preferably provided with a centrally located bore 71 or with a plurality of bolt apertures for receiving a'bolt 72 carried by the motor 61 and the bolt may be secured to the bracket by a nut 73 carried by the bolt 72. In some embodiments of the invention it will be found convenient to use a plurality of securing bolts and any type ofelectric motor 61 may be utilized.

The fan 40 actuated by motor 61, is preferably of the type having a plurality of blades 74, each of which is provided with a substantially cylindrical border flange 75. The blades 74 are preferably provided with slots 76 which are located between sections. '77, '78 of the blades 74, which sections have a different pitch. The trailing section '78 preferably has a greater pitch than the leading section 77, whereby the fan blades 74 are -not only adapted to impel air forward. but to draw air from the rear side of the blade and the border flanges 75 prevent eddy currents of air at the edges of the blades.

The present type of fan blades are adapted to give a substantially constant flow of air at all points of the fan from the hub to the blade tips, and the present blades are adapted to produce a greater flow of air with less noise than the devices of the prior art. In some embodiments of the invention, however, ordinaryforms of fan blades may be utilized although the best results are secured by the specific type of fan blades described. a

The discharge conduit 33 is preferably pro vided with apertures 79, 80 located in the side opposite to the window 37 to prevent obstruction of the window and the apertures 79, 80 provide space for location of auxiliary conduits 81, 82

having discharge openings 83, 84 located imme-' diately adjacent the fan blades 74. The conduits 81, 82 are each preferably formed of two sections 81a, 81b, 82a, 82b, which are slidably' mounted with respect to each other so that the conduits are extensible in length and they may be utilized for installation in booths of different sizes. The conduits are preferably provided with stamped sheet metal fixtures of the type shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 at the endadjacent the fan 40, and the fixtures 85, 86 may be identical in shape.

Referring to Fig. a, it will be noted that each with their openings 83, 84 in close proximity to the adjacent upper and lower edges of the fan blades 74, but sufiicient clearance is provided so that the fan blades 74 may rotate between the openings 83, 84 without contact. The openings 83, 84 have their planes substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of the fan blades 74, and it will be noted that the opening 83 is located on the discharge side of the fan, while the opening 84 is located on the suction side of the fan. The area of the openings 83 and 84 in the bowls 87 are substantially twenty per cent of the total fan area inthe present example, but the amount of discharge area of these openings depends upon the amount of positive fresh air supply desired for the telephone booth, and consequently the area of these openings may be varied.

The conduit 82 extends from a point adjacent the fan 40 to the exterior of the telephone booth,

.and since many booths are placed side by side with their back wall 25 against a wall, in many cases it will be found desirable to run the discharge conduit 82a out of the mi 27. The end of the discharge conduit 82a is beveled at 92 to prevent, the exhaust air from coming in the conduit 824: or the conduit 82a may be carried to any point where an absolutely fresh supply of air will be assured.

If desired, conduit 82a may lead to the exterior of the building, or to a supply of cooled and washed air, and if desired, filters may be interposed in the conduits leading to the supply conduit 82.

The conduit 81 is provided with a downwardly turned end 93 which discharges into another auxiliary conduit 94, which is preferably located in the corner of the telephone booth immediately adjacent the telephone transmitter or apparatus.

The conduit 94 is preferably so located that it will not diminish the useful space in the booth, and so that the fresh air which it discharges will be directed ,across .the telephone transmitter against the face of the occupant of the telephone booth. For this purpose, the conduit 94 may be formed by a diagonally extending partition or bailie 96, which extends across the comer of the booth and vertically of the booth above the telephone 95. The battle 96 is preferably provided with backwardly extending flanges 97 which extend substantially parallel to the side wall 24 and rear wall 25 of the booth, so that the battle may be secured to these walls by a plurality of nails or screws.

At its lower end, the baffle 96 is preferably provided with a plurality of vertically extending slots 98 giving a maximum discharge area without permitting the insertion of waste matter or other articles in the discharge conduit. The lower end of the conduit94 is closed by the end flange 99,

but the lower end of the discharge conduit 94 is also preferably provided with a deflector 100 for directing the currents of airout of the slots 98.

The battle 100 may consist of an upwardly curved piece of sheet metal having attaching flanges 101 by means of which the baflie is secured to the side walls. The baflie 100 tapers in width from its forward edge 102 to a point 103 which is located in the comer 104 and consequently the baffle is substantially triangular in shape.

The operation of the present telephone booth is as follows:

When the door is closed as shown in Figs. 5 and 13, the switch 60 is closed and consequently the lamp 48 and motor 61 are energized. The lamp 48 illuminates the booth, its light being diffused by the translucent globe 39 and the light 48 illuminated the fan 40 so that its rotation can be seen through the slots 17. The lamp also illuminates the printed sign on the translucent glass 30 through the transparent window 37 and provides an indication of the operation of the fan and an indication of the energization of the circuit. The sign 30 may also be used as an advertisement for advertising the ventilation of the booth, and it is found that where telephone booths of this type are employed in conjunction with the ordinary telephone booths of the prior art, the preference of the public is shown in a very marked degree by the greatly increased use of the present telephone booths over the booths of the prior art. The illuminated sign calls attention to the booths of the present construction and enables the users to select a ventilated telephone booth.

When the switch is closed by its own spring action due to the closing of the booth door, the fan 40 rotates and draws air from the interior of the telephone booth upward through the exhaust conduit 33 and the polluted air which usually collects at the top of the booth is discharged through the opening 31. The heat which is generated by the lamp bulb 48 is also dissipated since it is radiated to the air which is being discharged from the telephone booth. I

The same fan blades which impel air upward through the exhaust conduit 33 cause suction in the conduit 82 and an air pressure in the conduit 81 through the openings 83, 84 and fresh air is drawn in at the opening 92 and discharged through the conduits 81, 94 and slots 98 into the interior of the telephone booth. The fresh air is directed toward the face of the user of the telephone in a moderate and gentle stream and the fresh air is thus discharged at such a point that the occupant is breathing a supply of fresh ailr The same fan which exhausts the polluted air from the telephone booth is thus adapted to supply a positive supply of fresh air and the spe cific type of fan blades described are capable of producing the best results on account of the tendency of such a fan blade to draw air from behind the blade, as well as impel the air forward from the front of the blade. Many of the blades of the prior art do not exhibit the former function and merely impel air forward, the supply of air coming from eddy currents flowing inward from the tips of the blades and flowing backward from the front of the blade, in the devices of the prior art.

When the door is opened, the signal light is extinguished and the fan is shut off as soon as the opening of the door reaches a predetermined position. The present device is thus economical of the consumption of electric current and does not operate to ventilate the telephone booth when the door is open and no ventilation is required, and the booth is not in use.

It will thus be observed that I have invented a new positive method of ventilation of telephonebooths and the like, by means of which. the polluted air is removed from the booth and fresh air supplied at the point desired. These dual functions are accomplished by the use of a single electric fan and the present system of ventilation is adapted to provide a maximum of comfort for the occupant and to accomplish the ventilation of the telephone booth in a more efiicient manner than any of the devices of the prior art.

In Figs. 15 and 16 are more or less diagrammatically illustrated modified arrangements for supplying fesh air and discharging polluted air from a telephone booth. In each of these figures, the booth is shown at 105, the booth ceiling at 106, the compartment above the booth ceiling at 107, and at 108 is illustrated the globe fixture through which air is permitted to pass upwardly through the booth ceiling.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 15, I provide a suitable electric motor 109 having its armature shaft projecting from both ends thereof, the extended ends of the armature shaft being provided with propeller type fans 110 and 111 having their blades so conformed and disposed that each of the propellers serves to draw air toward and against the motor and thus serves to cool the same.

The propeller fan 110 is located in a sheet metal conduit 112 which has its air inlet at the roof of the booth and its discharge end extended through the booth ceiling 106.

The propeller fan 111 is located within a sheet metal conduit 113 having its intake end disposed to receive air passing upwardly through the booth ceiling through the globe fixture 108, the other end of the conduit 113 discharging above the booth roof.

During the operation of the motor 109, the fan 110 functions continuously to supply fresh air to the booth through the conduit 112. Simultaneously the fan 111 acts to expel foul air from the booth through its associated conduit 110 113.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 16, the electric motor 114 is mounted within the compartment 107 in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by a bracket 115, and is provided with 115 an extended armature shaft 116 whereon is, fixed the rotor of a divided squirrel cage type blower, the housing of which is illustrated at 117.

The blower just mentioned is double or divided in the sense that it comprises two impeller wheel sections 118, 119, which are fixed to rotate together, but which are separated from each other by a disc 120 which divides the blower housing 117 into two distinct air compartments of housing portions. The housing or housing portion within which the impeller section 118 operates, has its air inlet connected with a conduit 121 extended to the booth roof, the outlet of said housing portion being connected with a suitable conduit 122 adapted to discharge .air downwardly through ceiling 106. 4

The air inlet of the impeller housing portion within which the impeller section 119 operates, has its air inlet connected with a conduit 123 which receives air passing upwardly through the booth ceiling at the globe fixture 108. The outlet of the impeller housing portion within which the impeller section 119 operates, communicates with a discharge conduit 124 leading through the booth roof as shown.

In the operation of the motor 114, the impeller sections 118 and 119 operate simultaneously in the housing portions into which the impeller housing 117 is divided by the disc l20,the simultaneous operation of the said impeller sections by their common motor 114 serving to cause an in-fiow of fresh air to the booth through the conduits 121 and 122, concurrently with an outflow of foul air from the booth through conduits 123, and 124.

It will, of course, be understood that the circuits for the motors 109 and 114 and the lamps associated with the globe fixtures 108 (Figs. 15 and 16) may be controlled in any suitable manner, as, for instance, in the manner shown and described in connection with the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in preceding figures.

While I have illustrated several embodiments of my invention, many other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a telephone booth, the combination of a booth having walls and a ceiling with a ventilation fixture carried by said ceiling, an electric motor carried by said fixture, a fan actuated by said motor, a conduit surrounding said fan leading from the interior of said booth to the exterior, a pair of auxiliary conduits having openings adjacent said fan, one of said auxiliary conduits communicating with the exterior of said booth, and the other of said conduits communieating with the interior of said booth, whereby air is exhausted from said booth and fresh air supplied to said booth, and an electric light located in said ventilation fixture to illuminate said booth, said electric light being located in the stream of air actuated by said fan to remove heat from the interior of said booth. Y

2. In a telephone booth, the combination of booth having side walls and a ceiling, with a telephone transmitter, a conduit leading through the ceiling of said booth to the exterior of said booth for exhausting polluted air from said booth, a second conduit leading from the exterior of said booth to the interior and adapted to discharge fresh air in proximity to said transmitter, and a power actuated fan for producing a current of air in both of said conduits to effect a positive discharge of polluted air from the booth and a positive supply of fresh air to the booth, said second conduit comprising a substantially trie angular conduit located in a corner of said booth, extending vertically of said booth and in proximity tosaid telephone transmitter.

3. In a ventilating device for telephone booths, the combination of a substantially cylindrical discharge conduit with an electric fan, means for supporting said fan in said discharge conduit,

and a pair of conduits extending through the wall of said discharge conduit, said conduits having oppositely disposed openings in substantial registration with each other and located on the opposite sides of said fan.

4. In a ventilating device for telephone booths, the combination of 'a substantially cylindrical discharge conduit with an electric fan, means for supporting said fan in said discharge conduit, a pair of tubular conduits extending through the wall of said discharge conduit, said tubular conduits having oppositely disposed openings in substantial registration with each other andlocated on the opposite side of said fan, and means for adjusting the length of said tubular conduits whereby said device may be adapted for installation in telephone booths of different characteristics.

5'. In a ventilating device for telephone booths, the combination of a substantially cylindrical dis charge conduit with an electric fan, means for supporting said fan in said discharge conduit, a pair of tubular conduits extending through the wall of said discharge conduit, said tubular conduits'having oppositely disposed openings in substantial registration with each other and located on the opposite sides of said fan, an electric light socket carried by said discharge conduit, and a transparent section located in an opening in the wall of said discharge conduit for indicating the energization of said electric fan and light.

6. In a ventilating device for telephone booths, the combination of a substantially cylindrical discharge conduit withan electric motor and fan, means for supporting said fan in said discharge conduit, a pair of tubular conduits extending through the wall of said discharge conduit, said tubular conduits having oppositely disposed openings in substantial registration with each other and located on the opposite sides of said fan, and resilient means'for mounting said motor on said device to prevent the transmission of motor vibration and noise to the wall of the telephone booth.

' GUY S. FABER. 

